Article January 23, 1915 Issue

"Safety first"

HENRY R. CORBETT, PH.M.

A nation-wide crusade to prevent accidents has been taken up by newspapers and magazines, and it seems to have the commendation of public sentiment everywhere. Railways and automobile clubs are falling into line, condemning the sacrifice of safety to speed. In all the centers of industrial activity, corporations, labor unions, and indemnity companies have united in posting and sounding the words, "Safety first." It is gratifying to see such a salutary purpose curbing the speed mania of the day, and it is cause for rejoicing when any earnest effort is made to exalt a thoughtful regard for human welfare above the desire for dividends and other material results. So it becomes important to consider whether these beneficent efforts are well directed, and whether our participation in them is along the most effective lines.

On page 196 of Science and Health Mrs. Eddy says, "Man has 'sought out many inventions,' but he has not yet found it true that knowledge can save him from the dire effects of knowledge." The material senses of mankind interpret everything materially. They tell us nothing about Spirit or spiritual law, hence mankind fail to seek welfare the better way, namely, through spiritual means.

All kindly welfare work is commonly spoken of as Christian in spirit, with a motive based on the teachings of the Bible; and this is certainly true in the sense that every movement toward the expression of more perfect love and harmony comes from the one divine source of all true being. But the Bible plainly lays down a basis of safety of which nothing whatever has been said in this human campaign for the prevention of accidents and the preservation of life. In the ninety-first psalm, among the results that ensue from dwelling "in the secret place of the most High" we find the words, "Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day. ... A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee."

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